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Christmas Spelling Words: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Christmas Spelling Words is a free printable spelling worksheet for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Children practise common Year 3 and 4 words in a festive setting. They read a word, cover it, write it from memory and check it. Page 2 gives the adult notes, help ideas, a stretch task and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children work through a table with three columns: Word, Cover and write, and Check. They read each word, cover it, write it from memory, then check it and tick it. The words are common Year 3 and 4 spelling words, practised with a festive theme. Children look for the tricky part of each word and think about how to remember it. The routine is the same every time, so children can settle in and focus on the spelling.
- Word
- Cover and write
- Check
Ways to remember a tricky word
Say it in chunks
Say the word slowly, one syllable at a time, and clap each beat. Writing one chunk at a time is easier than facing a whole word at once.
Mark the tricky part
Use a coloured pencil to circle the letters that are easy to get wrong. Looking hard at that one spot helps children remember it.
Make a memory trick
Invent a silly phrase, rhyme or picture that links to the tricky part. The sillier it is, the more likely it is to stay in mind.
Look, cover, write, check
Look at the word, cover it, write it from memory, then uncover it and check every letter. If it is wrong, try again straight away.
Why practise spelling with a festive theme?
In the National Curriculum for England, Years 3 and 4 share a list of words that are taught across both years. Many of them do not follow simple rules, so children need to meet them often. Short, regular practice helps more than one long session. Seeing the same word several times, in different places, helps it stick.
A festive theme gives practice a purpose. December is a time when children write cards, lists and messages, so careful spelling has a real use. The cover and write method asks children to recall a word from memory rather than copy it. That effort is what helps a spelling stay in their mind. Checking afterwards lets them spot exactly which letter went wrong.
Skills and curriculum link
- Spelling Year 3 and 4 words
- Cover and write
- Spotting tricky parts
- Checking your own work
- Handwriting
- Using words in sentences
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | English | Writing: transcription (spelling) | Year 4 |
What children will be able to do
- I can spell common Year 3 and 4 words.
- I can find the tricky part of a word.
- I can check my spelling.
How to help with spelling
- Little and oftenA few words each day work better than all the words in one go. Short practice is easier to keep up and easier to remember.
- Say the word clearlySay each word in chunks before writing it. Children often spell the way they say a word, so slow, clear speech can help.
- Find the tricky partMost words have one or two spots that catch children out. Name that spot, mark it and come back to it.
- Check, then correctChildren should check letter by letter. If a word is wrong, they write the whole word again rather than fixing one letter.
Key words
- SyllableA beat in a word. You can clap each syllable as you say it.
- VowelThe letters a, e, i, o and u.
- ConsonantAny letter that is not a vowel.
- Tricky partThe letters in a word that are easy to get wrong.
- Silent letterA letter that is written in a word but not heard when you say it.
- Memory trickA rhyme, picture or silly phrase that helps you remember a spelling.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the instructions together the first time. Show how to read the word, cover it, write it from memory and tick it.
- Use the sheet across a week of short spelling practice. Do a few words at a time rather than rushing them all.
- Check against the answers on page 2. Ask, "Which part was tricky?" and talk about how to remember it.
- Come back another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Practise three words a day instead of all six. Say each word in chunks before covering it. Use a coloured pencil to mark the tricky part. Check one letter at a time, and praise every word that is right on the second go, not only the first.
To stretch confident children
Write a festive sentence for each word on the back of the sheet. Then swap with a friend or grown up. Can they spot a word you spelled wrongly on purpose? Check every word carefully against page 2.
Make it a game
Ask a grown up to read the words out for a quick test. Write each word from memory, then swap and mark. For a bonus round, take turns to be the teacher and call out the words for each other.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child copies the word without really covering it, so there is no memory practice.
Try thisFold the page or use a book to hide the word fully. Only uncover it for the check.
Watch forA child spells by sound and misses a letter in the tricky part.
Try thisSay the word in chunks, find the tricky part together and mark it. Then try the cover and write again.
Watch forA child rubs out one wrong letter and moves on.
Try thisAsk them to write the whole word again from memory. Writing the full word builds the habit.
Watch forA child spells a word right today but forgets it the next day.
Try thisCome back to the sheet on another day. Spellings need to be met several times before they stay.
Talk about it
- Which word was the easiest, and why?
- Which part of this word is tricky?
- How could you remember how to spell it?
- Can you use this word in a festive sentence?
- Does this word look like another word you know?
- Which word would you like to practise again tomorrow?
Take it off the page
Chalk spelling
Write the words in chalk on a path or patio. Walk along them, say each word aloud and tap each syllable with your foot.
Christmas card message
Write a short message for a friend or relative using as many practice words as you can. Check each spelling before you finish.
Word strips
Write each word on a strip of paper. Mix them up, pick one, read it, cover it and write it from memory.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first word, then let them lead. Short bursts across the week work best. Praise the effort of finding a tricky part, and ask them to explain how they will remember it.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. The cover and write routine suits independent work, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider English plan alongside reading and writing. It works well with brothers and sisters at different levels, and you can reprint it a few weeks later to see which spellings have stuck.
Where spelling goes next
Before this, children in Year 3 begin the shared Year 3 and 4 word list and learn simple ways to remember tricky spellings. They build up the habit of reading a word carefully and writing it from memory.
After this, children move on to the Year 5 and 6 word list in the National Curriculum for England. The same habits carry forward: spot the tricky part, use a memory trick and check your own work. Writing words in sentences helps them use spellings in their own writing.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which part of this word is tricky?
- How could you remember how to spell it?
- Can you use this word in a sentence?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Christmas Spelling Words for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. It can also work as revision for older children, or as a challenge for confident children in Year 3.
- What do children practise on this sheet?
They practise spelling common Year 3 and 4 words correctly. They also look for the tricky part of each word, use the cover and write method, and check their own work. Page 2 has the answers.
- How should I use it?
Use it for a week of short spelling practice. Children read the word, cover it, write it from memory, then tick it. Work through the first word together, then let them try alone.
- What if my child finds it too hard?
Practise three words a day instead of all six. Say each word in chunks, mark the tricky part with a coloured pencil, and come back to the sheet another day.
- Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Writing by hand also gives children practice with their handwriting.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 offers help and stretch ideas.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No colour is needed. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, and you can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.